Special teams pivotal for Wranglers, Aces

Playing against Alaska was mostly a humbling experience last season for Las Vegas, which went 3-10-1 against the Aces, including the playoffs, and was swept by them in the National Conference finals.

Alaska, which lost to South Carolina in seven games in the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals, has a new coach and a new tandem of goaltenders this season, but it again appears to be one of the league's best teams.

The Aces (3-0-0) swept a three-game series from the Victoria Salmon Kings to start their season and will try to extend their win streak against Las Vegas in a three-game series today through Saturday at the Orleans Arena.

The Wranglers (0-1-0) squandered leads of 2-0 and 3-1 en route to a 5-3 home loss to Utah on Friday in their season opener. The Grizzlies went 3-for-7 on the power play, and Las Vegas went 1-for-6.

"We need to put together a full 60 minutes, and we only put together 20," Wranglers center Adam Miller said. "We're going to concentrate this weekend on putting together three solid 60-minute games."

Alaska, which is 3-for-16 with a man advantage, held the Salmon Kings scoreless on 16 power plays.

"Special teams is going to be huge this weekend," first-year Wranglers coach Ryan Mougenel said. "We've got to stay out of the penalty box, because they've got a potent power play and several weapons on offense.

"If they get seven or eight chances on the power play, we don't give ourselves a chance of winning."

Colin Hemingway paces the Aces in points with four, and John Lammers leads the team in goals with three.

Brent Thompson replaced Keith McCambridge as coach of Alaska, which features Sebastian Dahm and Scott Reid in net, where J.P. Lamoureux earned league Goalie of the Year honors last season for the Aces.

Dahm (2-0-0) gave up four goals in two victories over Victoria, and Reid (1-0-0) allowed one in the other win.

Wranglers goalies Michael Ouzas and Joel Gistedt each are expected to play against Alaska.

"We've got to protect the house and give our goalie a lot of help this weekend," Miller said.

• NOTES -- The ECHL suspended Alaska left wing Lance Galbraith for three games and center Chris Morehouse for one for their actions in a bench-clearing brawl in Monday's 2-1 win over the Salmon Kings. ... The American Hockey League's San Antonio Rampage assigned center Justin Bernhardt to Las Vegas. Bernhardt, 21, scored 92 points in 72 games last season in the Western Hockey League and was held scoreless in three games this season for the Rampage.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.